USS Enterprise's victory over HMS Boxer was one of several single-ship duels in 1813 that sustained American morale during the War of 1812.
Key Facts
- Date of engagement
- 5 September 1813
- American vessel
- USS Enterprise (brig)
- British vessel
- HMS Boxer (gun-brig)
- American commander
- Lieutenant William Burrows
- British commander
- Commander Samuel Blyth
- Prize auction value
- 9775 USD
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the War of 1812, British naval vessels operated along the New England coast, threatening American shipping and coastal communities. The presence of HMS Boxer in Maine waters brought her into contact with the U.S. Navy brig USS Enterprise, setting the stage for a direct confrontation between the two warships.
On 5 September 1813, USS Enterprise under Lieutenant William Burrows engaged HMS Boxer, commanded by Commander Samuel Blyth, in a sea fight off the coast of Maine. The American brig, originally built as a schooner in Maryland in 1799 and later rebuilt as a brig, defeated the British gun-brig in the engagement.
HMS Boxer was captured and subsequently auctioned for $9,775 to benefit her captors. The prize vessel served as a local merchantman for some years before the engagement faded from immediate strategic significance. USS Enterprise eventually wrecked in the West Indies in 1823, but the name Enterprise was carried forward by successive U.S. Navy warships.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Lieutenant William Burrows.
Side B
1 belligerent
Commander Samuel Blyth.